"Time is money" is a common proverb that suggests the value of time is equivalent to the value of money. It means that time, like money, is a valuable resource that should be used wisely and efficiently. The phrase is often used to emphasize the importance of being productive, making the most of one's time, and not wasting it on unproductive activities.
The concept behind this phrase is that just as you can spend money to buy goods and services, you can also invest your time in activities that yield valuable results or benefits. In the context of work or business, it highlights the importance of being efficient and productive to achieve better financial outcomes.
The idea has been attributed to Benjamin Franklin, one of the Founding Fathers of the United States, who wrote in his essay "Advice to a Young Tradesman" in 1748:
"Remember that Time is Money. He that can earn Ten Shillings a Day by his Labour, and goes abroad, or sits idle one half of that Day, though he spends but Sixpence during his Diversion or Idleness, ought not to reckon That the only Expense; he has really spent or rather thrown away Five Shillings besides."
In modern times, this phrase is often used in various contexts to remind people of the importance of managing their time wisely and being productive in their pursuits.